Heart disease continues to pose a significant threat to the population of Guyana, particularly among younger individuals. Dr. Mahendra Carpen, Head of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), is urging routine health screenings starting as early as age 25 to combat this growing concern.
In a recent episode of the Starting Point Podcast, Dr. Carpen highlighted the alarming trend of increasing cardiovascular disease cases among younger patients. He noted that globally, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, but the situation in Guyana is particularly dire. In 2024, the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at GPHC treated over 1,000 patients, while the outpatient department recorded more than 60,000 patient encounters.
“What I have seen in just 12 years of practice in Guyana is astonishing,” Dr. Carpen remarked. “The average age of heart attack victims has shifted from the 50s and 60s to now seeing patients in their 30s and 40s.”
Dr. Carpen further explained that many individuals admitted with severe heart attacks are only then discovering underlying conditions, such as diabetes. He emphasized the need for better screening practices, noting that cultural norms often lead people to seek medical help only when they are already ill.
However, he also pointed out that the increased detection of heart disease in younger populations may be attributed to improved healthcare accessibility and awareness among healthcare workers. “It is still frightening that we are having people at this young age coming in with severe cardiovascular disease,” he stated.
To address this issue, Dr. Carpen advocates for national policies that implement mandatory screening programs for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, recommending that testing begin between the ages of 25 and 30. Such screenings would include checks on height and weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and assessments of smoking and vaping habits.
“By screening people at an early age, we can create a risk profile and determine our next steps,” he explained.
While prevention and early detection are crucial, Dr. Carpen acknowledged that genetics and uncontrollable factors also play a role in cardiovascular health. “Some people will still develop cardiovascular disease despite early interventions,” he noted, citing age, gender, and ethnicity as significant risk factors.
With new hospitals being built across the country, Dr. Carpen believes that Guyana’s healthcare system will strengthen, enhancing the capacity to detect and diagnose cardiovascular diseases through robust cardiac intervention programs.
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